By Iuri Melo
Dear readers, it brings me immense joy to have you here, dedicating a moment to nourish your mind and body with perspectives that ignite courage and optimism. Today, I invite you to explore the concept of falling up. Curious? Well, let’s dive in.
As a therapist and avid rock climber, I have come to appreciate the profound wisdom that climbing imparts. Two decades ago, while embarking on my clinical career, I discovered the exhilaration of climbing. It sparked a desire within me to not only engage in this thrilling sport but also to recognize its therapeutic value. Climbing became a transformative tool, teaching the very principles I aimed to convey within the confines of my office.
When I introduce clients to the rock, I anticipate their initial failures with great excitement. It is through these repeated failed attempts that growth occurs. Muscles strengthen, skills develop, and passion flourishes. As they stumble, I offer only a few tips, allowing them to fail as much as possible. I demonstrate the necessary climbing skills, and often hear them exclaim, “You make it look so easy!” In response, I emphasize that the only difference between them and me is time and experience. Climbing, like life, requires personal investment. It is a process of evolution and transformation. Through climbing projects that may take months to complete, I encourage my clients to fall hundreds of times before succeeding once. It is a beautiful journey of learning how to fall with style.
Falling is an integral and somewhat terrifying aspect of climbing. As clients progress in their climbing ability, I guide them towards becoming lead climbers. Learning to fall safely becomes paramount.
Embracing the process of falling teaches us invaluable lessons:
1. Failure is an essential ingredient for excellence. It is natural and should not be resisted or feared. By embracing failure, we utilize it as part of our journey towards success.
2. Our failures do not define us. They are temporary setbacks, not permanent labels. We must resist the urge to generalize our failures, predicting a bleak future. Instead, we can view them as present inabilities that will change with personal growth and effort.
3. Failure now paves the way for success later. Within our failures lie the seeds of progress. By quickly shifting our focus from mistakes, adjusting our approach, and persisting, we build emotional maturity and resilience.
4. Humor and celebration in failure are powerful tools. By finding the humor in our mistakes, we lessen the sting of failure. Laughter allows us to learn and grow, ultimately reshaping our perspective on setbacks.
By redefining failure, we cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. Rather than condemn, we offer assistance. Instead of losing motivation after each failure, we maintain our drive. We learn from our mistakes rather than identify with them. This shift in mindset empowers us to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and happiness. Research demonstrates that adopting this optimistic approach to failure enhances our professional, personal, and academic endeavors.
So, my dear friend, heed Buzz Lightyear’s advice and educate your brain to “fall with style.” Gradually, you will experience the motivation and fulfillment that come from recognizing that failing up is always an option. Thank you for being here today, and remember, you have the power to shape what failure means to you. Embrace failure, embrace growth. See you soon!
In the spirit of “falling up,” let us embark on a journey of transformative growth, embracing failure as a stepping stone towards success.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Iuri Melo is the co-founder of Copilot and has been a Licensed Therapist for over 20 years. He’s seen thousands of people like you. He’s published two books (Mind Over Grey Matter & Know Thy Selfie), one of which was a best-seller. He’s won awards for his therapeutic work with individuals, and is just a hell of a guy! In his own words: “I adore people; I’m hopeful about people. I’m always amazed at people’s ability to grow, adapt, and expand into better living & thinking. My goal is to inspire deep positive change, and change always begins with bettering our own psychology, and that is what Copilot is all about!”
